Help with Aggressive Alpha 8 Month Female

[Cody'sMom]

Our 8 month female yorkie, Cheyenne, was a great addition to our family. But, at 12 weeks old, she did come into the house with an alpha attitude from day one. We also have a sweetie male that is now 3 years old. They are both fixed. They play constantly and there haven't been many biting issues. Cheyenne is extremely protective of the food and toys though and it is bothersome. Although she has been a great playmate of Cody's and he adores her, he seems a bit fearful of her. She intimidates him. There have been times when she has attacked Cody and bit him after baths. She does not recognize his smell and sees him as a different dog entirely. CRAZY!!! If I use the same dog shampoo I normally do, she is okay. If I use something different, she has outright attacked and bit him on a few occasions. He has been shaking in a corner after those attacks.

I've recently been working on some techniques to show her that I'm the boss. (VERY RECENTLY as in a couple days.) I'm no longer free-feeding them and hoping this will help. We're also removing her from the feeding area and telling her "NO" when she is guarding the pet dishes while Cody is trying to eat. It doesn't turn into a fight there, she just WATCHES him within inches of the dishes and makes him a bit nervous. she does "allow" him to eat at least. But we have to change that!!! He doesn't need her permission!!! This 4 pounder shouldn't be in charge. They don't sleep with us so we already have that battle won. Although they would certainly like to! Cheyenne is a really good listener and does listen when I tell her not to do something or to stay. she seems fairly smart although somewhat stubborn (read . . . housebreaking isn't quite where I want it to be, but close).

The major problem that we have with Cheyenne is OTHER DOGS!! She is a major attack dog and while she is on the leash walking through the neighborhood, she has gone after HUGE dogs in a very aggressive manor. I'm afraid she is getting a bad reputation. I don't think I'll be able to hide behind the "she is just a scared puppy" excuse much longer. I know she seems very afraid of these dogs and I think that is why she is acting out this way. She seems afraid of people, too, and won't go near them. (If they come into the house, she loves them after a minute or two.)

Any help for this puppy? She is super sweet and very loving toward all of us. She loves to cuddle and I absolutely CANNOT give her up.

Thanks for your help.

Dawn
Cody and Cheyenne

[txshopper73]

I'm sorry that I have no advice and this is surely NOT a laughing matter. However, after reading this, the first thing that came to mind is to get a t-shirt for her that say..."HEAD BITCH IN CHARGE!"

I hope that any trainers out there can help you. Good luck!

[Cody'sMom]

She would OWN that t-shirt, for sure!

I've had 3 super, super sweet well-behaved male dogs in my adult life. Just really laid back boys. All 3 adapted really well to training, etc. We thought we would try a cute little girl to keep Cody company. Well . . . she is just so different!

I think she will come around, but I really need help on the neighborhood dog issue more than anything. I'm afraid she will bite one that is really going to bite her back, too. Geez!

Dawn

[txshopper73]

Have you considered putting her in training classes?

[edumma]

Dawn, I hope you don't mind but I'm also interested in any tips on the leash issue as my Remy also has melt downs when on the leash and we encounter other dogs on our walks ( Remy is totally fine off leash in the daycare and dogparks ,she usually ignores other dogs for the most part )
Eileen

[Cody'sMom]

I was hoping to get some advice on Yorkie Talk from some experienced yorkie owners. ??

I have called about some local basic training classes today. We do not have much available in my area. I live in the country. I do not think a basic dog training class will do much for Cheyenne's case. She already walks on a leash properly and sits & stays for me. Beyond that, the 5 week class probably would not offer us much more than that. I've already missed the first class anyway. I have left a message for the instructor with the hopes that he may have some private "issue" based evalulations.

This really seems to be a fear issue for her. She really seems to be afraid of these approaching dogs in my neighborhood as well as any approaching neighbors w/out dogs when she is leashed. I believe it has a lot to do with the leash. (Hmmm . . . maybe she is protecting me? Or, she is afraid for me? I don't know.)

Dawn
Cody and Cheyenne

[Cody'sMom]

Eileen & Kimberley,

Thanks for posting to my request for help. I guess no other yorkie talkers or trainers have any suggestions for me or Eileen at this time. Hopefully I can get some help for cheyenne with the local dog trainer. Or, if this one doesn't work or have any suggestions, I'll drive an hour to Madison, WI!! Too bad I can't get the dog whisperer here.

Thanks again.

Dawn
Cody and Cheyenne

[RustysMom]

I have owned 2 alpha females and I think she is protecting you as she thinks her job is.....take that job away, and she should follow you. Whatever we feel is so easily felt and interpreted by the yorkies. It could be that she feels your apprehension about the large dogs and acts up being the leader.

I have a Cheyenne too but she is not quite 4 months old and was aplha since birth. Her breeder warned me she was before she ever came home. Rusty who is also 3 just like your Cody will NOT play with her or give her the time of day. If I am not watching her she will also run Rusty out of the kitchen when it is dinner time.

She was very bad in the first few days we had her home, but I rolled her onto her back often and told her she is NOT the boss LOL! I do and did small things to show her she is not the boss, like taking her food dish away and leaving her in a room alone. These teach her she is not the boss, I am.

My house, my rules. I walk them but walk in front and lead them. She is getting over her alpha tendancies.

Guess this didn't help much, but how we feel is so easily interpreted by the dogs and she may be interpreting you wrong. If so, then you have to show her what is right.

I would try being aplha first, think good thoughts when meeting the big dogs, do not allow her to act up. She has to see you as alpha. I would try that first before desensitizing her to bigger dogs or other people.

[Jeri Cunningham]

I already had 4 yorkies when Kayla was born and she had a very alpha attitude. I didn't even sell her as I knew she was trouble with a capital T. On our second walk I had Kayla, Chelsey and Mandy and Kayla ran over and bit Mandy on the ear. Mandy looked like OMG I've been atacked. I picked up Kayla and growled at her. A few minutes she bit me! I picked her up growled and bit her back. My friend thought I was crazy but it worked.
She learned that day I'm alpha on walks.

It took many hours to totally train her and she is sweet and wonderful now at 14 months old.

[Malia]

Aww! It does sound like these girls are scared of the big dogs and the only way they react to that is bark, bark, bark!
I hope you find a solution soon!
You should be glad, its a yorkie alpha female! My sister has a rottweiler, who is a alpha female! Let me tell you!! Well, she's mellow now, but I couldn't even take her out for a walk! She would flip out on almost anything and would create a big scene!!
So be thankful that you're walking a little dominant yorkie and not struggling with a huge dominant rottweiler
But its still a serious problem because you also don't want them to end up getting hurt! Plus a simple walk shouldn't be a painful experience!
Hope you guys find a solution and keep us updated.
I guess it would help to let them know you're in charge and you're the boss!

[schmoosmummy]

Hi Dawn and Eileen

I am an owner of 4 dogs and my Schmoo (now formally known as physco schmoo) has suddenly turned into a demon dog

I would have given my eye teeth that Scamper my Jack Russell ( aka the thug) would rule the roost but what a turn round. At first Schmoo started snarling at any dog that came close if he was near me. Now as soon as l come in and the dogs come to greet me he attacks Scamper. Also yesterday he actually challenged me over a carrot He stole it and snarled at me as l went to take it off him. He definatly doesn't look to me as pack leader any more. My little baby has turned into an out of control teenager

I think from all l have heard from other peoples problems that it is us humans that are not showing the alpha role. If we don't make the dogs feel safe when we are walking them, then they have to defend the pack. Also when it comes to food, l think it is up to us to not let one intimidate the other. As alpa we should be putting the others in their place. I do think that fear aggression might need a behaviourist though. In England when we have the dogs insured, there usually is a bit that allows the help of a behaviourist for your dog. Maybe you should check your insurance.

All of this is theory by the way - just how to become alpha is really hard when they are so cute I just can't help fussing the dogs when they come over to me. Some people say that you should not even acknowledge them for 15 minutes when you come in ! These mutts are my babies and its hard to ignore them for a few seconds.

Anyway l think all we can do is try and persevere and never give up on the little devils. We just have to tell people that they are a work in progress

Godd luck to you both and l look forward to your posts.



I

[xiju]

Originally Posted by Jeri Cunningham

I already had 4 yorkies when Kayla was born and she had a very alpha attitude. I didn't even sell her as I knew she was trouble with a capital T. On our second walk I had Kayla, Chelsey and Mandy and Kayla ran over and bit Mandy on the ear. Mandy looked like OMG I've been atacked. I picked up Kayla and growled at her. A few minutes she bit me! I picked her up growled and bit her back. My friend thought I was crazy but it worked.
She learned that day I'm alpha on walks.

It took many hours to totally train her and she is sweet and wonderful now at 14 months old.

Interesting! I ran into the biting issue 30 years ago when my youngest daughter continually bit her sister. One day I'd had enough and held the youngest's arm and made her sister bite her. It worked!! No more biting. It did not occur to me to use children's training techniques on dogs. Thank you for your post.

[KellyV]

Where in WI are you? There's a trainer that I've heard is really good with aggressive dogs, but I'm not sure if it would be too far or not.